Tenter machine



May 9, 1939. J. H. WILLIAMS, JR

TENTER MACHINE Origirial Filed May 6, 1958 INVENTOR. MJYWZKW.

BY mafia/QM ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1939 2,157,644

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE TENTER MACHINE John H. Williams, Jr., Providence, R. I.

Original application May 6, 1938, Serial N 0. 206,445. Divided and this application September 13, 1938, Serial No. 229,715

2 Claims. (01. 2661) This invention relates to improvements in mediately above a sprocket 34 that is rotated by tenter machines and is directed more particularly shaft 36.

to improvements in tenter chains, clips and driv- The sprocket 34 is provided with sockets 38 ing sprockets for the same. This application is arranged in pairs and recesses 48 disposed be- 5 a division of a copending application Serial No. tween the pairs of sockets. The sockets 38 are 206,445 filed by me on May 6, 1938 which issued arranged to operatively receive the bushings M as Patent 2,147,115 on February 14, 1939. while the recesses 38 are arranged to loosely According to the novel features of this invenreceive the body parts 4 of the clips. tion a tenter clip for a chain and a sprocket of The bushings M are machined to size within novel form are provided to facilitate quietness narrow limits and the sockets 38 are accurately 10 and smoothness in the operation of the chain formed and spaced. The bushings of the chain and sprocket. The invention also facilitates the are received in the said socket while the body employment of a larger sprocket than is possible portions 4 are received in but not in engagement with prior art sprockets. Large sprockets are with the recesses 46. By means of the construc- 10 desirable for many reasons among which are tion since the bushings are the only parts consmoothness and efiiciency in operation as well tacting with the sprockets, smoothness and quietas the attainment of high speed operation. ness of operation are assured while the speed of Numerous other objects and advantages of the operation is not reduced because of any irreguinvention will be hereinafter more fully referred larities of engaging parts.

to in connection with the accompanying descrip- While I have described the invention in great 20 tion of the present preferred form of the indetail and with respect to the present preferred vention, reference being had to the drawing, form thereof, it is not desired to be limited therewherein: to since many changes and modifications may be Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a tenter clip made therein without departing from the spirit embodying the novel features of the invention; and scope of the invention. What it is desired 25 Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the of Fig. 1; United States is:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the periph- 1. A tenter chain and sprocket construction eral portion of a sprocket having a tenter chain comprising in combination, a plurality of tenter composed of the clips shown in Figs. 1 and 2 clips having central body portions and spaced 30 associated therewith; and upper and lower lugs at opposite sides thereof, Fig. 4 is a small scale plan view of a tenter a plurality of links each having a pair of upper machine rail. and lower plates with the opposite ends of said Referring now to the drawing more in detail plates disposed between the upper and lower adthe invention will be fully described. jacent lugs of adjacent clips, bushings between 35 A tenter clip of the invention represented by Said plates at opposite ends thereof, pins extend- 2 in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a body portion 4 from ing through said lugs, ends of said plates and each end of which extends upper and lower lugs bushings to connect the links to the clips, and or ears 6 and 8. The lugs at adjacent ends of a sprocket having teeth each of which includes a adjacent clips are connected together by links part for entering between the bushings of the i0 indicated generally by It] to form a tenter chain. links and recesses at the sides thereof for re- The links l0 preferably include upper and lower ceiving the bushings of the links and recesses plates such as l2 between which are bushings or between the teeth for loosely receiving the bodies rollers l4 and pivot pins l6 extend through the of the clips whereby the bodies of the clips are lugs 8, plates [2 and bushings I4, as shown. closely related to the pitch line of the sprocket. 5

The body portion 4 of the clip is preferably 2. A tenter chain and sprocket construction arranged so that when the clips are pivotally comprising in combination, a plurality of tenter connected together to form a chain the said clips clips having central body portions and lugs at slide in guides such as 20 of a rail indicated genopposite sides thereof, links between the lugs of erally by 22. adjacent clips, pivotal connections between op- 5:)

A gate 24 is pivoted at 26 to the clip which posite ends of said links and adjacent lugs of cooperates with a plate 28 to clamp material adjacent clips whereby alternate clips and links therebetween. A tail piece 30 extending upare pivotally connected to form a tenter chain, wardly from the gate is arranged to be engaged a sprocket having spaced tooth parts each formed by an opener such as 32 which is disposed imwith a tooth part for entering between adjacent 55 pivotal connections at the adjacent sides of adjacent clips and recesses at either side of the said tooth part for receiving said pivotal connections and provided with body recesses for loosely receiving the bodies of the clips, all adapted and arranged whereby the clips have separate pivotal connections at opposite sides thereof and at adjacent sides of adjacent clips receivable in adjacent recesses with the tooth parts of the sprocket between said recesses disposed between adjacent pivotal connections at adjacent sides of adjacent clips and the bodies of the clips disposed in said body recesses.

JOHN H. WILLIAMS, JR. 

